Plan now and save for later: How to pay for a funeral

Putting plans in place for when you pass on will save your nearest and dearest from more stress and strain

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Prepare for your funeral for peace of mind

Talking about dying can be difficult on many levels, but if you can overcome this, it can benefit the people who are closest to you. By putting plans in place for an event when you are no longer here, you can save your nearest and dearest a lot of financial and emotional worry.

As research by Sun Life Direct shows, this is exactly what a large number of British people over the age of 50 are doing and with the cost of funerals increasing well above general inflation, it is easy to understand why. For these people, there is a desire to take away what can become a heavy burden from those left behind.

A good approach is to bite the bullet and just start talking about it. But some people take it one step further and look at putting a funeral plan into place. There are different ways in which to do this. Some people simply rely on their estates to fund their funeral but of course, not everyone has this as an option, so others might specifically save for the event, take out insurance or buy a pre-paid funeral plan. Choices tend to be influenced by a desire for simplicity, flexibility, affordability, discipline or certainty.

There are alternative options for those who don’t plan due to affordability issues. If you are on qualifying benefits, for example, you can apply for a Social Fund Funeral Payment from the Government. But this payment can leave many people short as the average amount paid out is £1,241, while the average cost of a funeral is £3,284. And not every application is successful. In fact, only around 55% are.

Ultimately, of course, you can reduce the amount you spend by cutting down on the options you choose. For example, you could choose an inexpensive coffin; you could cut down on limousines and have people make their own way to the funeral or ask family and friends to help. You could also ask them to provide a venue for the wake or do the catering - people can feel helpless at this time and may be more than willing to help out where they can. However, if you plan ahead, you could help avoid having to cut corners while reducing additional stress for family and friends at an emotional time.

How to calculate funeral costs

If you’re wondering how much a funeral might cost in your area, you could use the Sun Life Direct Funeral Costs Calculator. This quick and easy tool will help you look at average funeral costs in your chosen area, and you can add or take away any extras you think you may or may not want - such as flowers or catering – to get an idea of how much each element could affect your overall funeral cost.